Copolymer-associated nanomaterial

Abstract

A nanomaterial can include an outer layer including a ligand. The ligand can include a first monomer unit including a first moiety having affinity for a surface of the nanocrystal, a second monomer unit including a second moiety having a high water solubility, and a third monomer unit including a third moiety having a selectively reactive functional group or a selectively binding functional group. The ligand can be a random copolymer.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A nanomaterial comprising:
 a nanocrystal; and 
 an outer layer including a ligand, wherein the ligand includes a polymer including a random copolymer including regions of R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 , wherein:
 R 1  has a formula -L 1 -T 1 , wherein L 1  includes alkylene terminated by —CONH—, wherein T 1  includes imidazole; 
 R 2  has a formula -L 2 -T 2 , wherein L 2  includes alkylene terminated by —CONH—, wherein T 2  includes —[O—CH 2 —CHR 5 ] n —R 6 , where R 5  is H, n is an integer in the range of 0 to 30, and R 6  is C 1  to C 6  alkoxy; 
 R 3  has a formula -L 3 -T 3 , wherein L 3  includes alkylene terminated by —CONH—, wherein T 3  includes —[O—CH 2 —CHR 7 ] m —R 8 , where R 7  is H, m is an integer in the range of 0 to 30, and R 8  is C 1  to C 6  aminoalkyl. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A method of making a ligand, comprising:
 mixing a first monomer or oligomer including R 1 ; a second monomer or oligomer including R 2 ; and a third monomer or oligomer including R 3 ; wherein:
 R 1  has a formula -L 1 -T 1 , wherein L 1  includes alkylene terminated by —CONH—, wherein T 1  includes imidazole; 
 R 2  has a formula -L 2 -T 2  wherein L 2  includes alkylene terminated by —CONH—, wherein T 2  includes —[O—CH 2 —CHR 5 ] n —R 6 , where R 5  is H, n is an integer in the range of 0 to 30, and R 6  is C 1  to C 6  alkoxy; 
 R 3  has the formula -L 3 -T 3 , wherein L 3  includes alkylene terminated by —CONH—, wherein T 3  includes —[O—CH 2 —CHR 7 ] m —R 8 , where R 7  is H, in is an integer in the range of 0 to 30, and R 8  is C 1  to C 5  aminoalkyl; and 
 
 forming a ligand from the first monomer oligomer, the second monomer or oligomer, and the third monomer oligomer. 
 
     
     
       3. A ligand including a polymer including a random copolymer including regions having each of the following formulae: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein 
         R 1  has a formula -L 1 -T 1 , wherein L 1  includes alkylene terminated by —CONH—, wherein T 1  includes imidazole: 
         R 2  has the formula -L 2 -T 2 , wherein for L 2  includes alkylene terminated by —CONH—, wherein T 2  includes —[O—CH 2 —CHR 5 ] n —R 6 , where R 5  is H, n is an integer in the range of 0 to 30, and R 6  is C 1  to C 6  alkoxy; 
         R 3  has the formula -L 3 -T 3 , wherein L 3  includes alkylene terminated by —CONH—, wherein T 3  includes —[O—CH 2 —CHR 7 ] m —R 8 , where R 7  is H, m is an integer in the range of 0 to 30, and R 8  is C 1  to C 6  aminoalkyl; 
         each of R a , R b , and R c , independently, is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy; and 
         each of x, y, and z, independently, a positive integer. 
       
     
     
       4. A method of making a nonmaterial, comprising: contacting the ligand of  claim 3  with a nanocrystal. 
     
     
       5. The nanomaterial of  claim 1 , wherein L 1 , L 2 , and L 3  are each independently —C(O)NH—(CH 2 ) i — wherein i is an integer in the range of 0 to 6. 
     
     
       6. The nanomaterial of  claim 1 , wherein n is an integer in the range of 5 to 25 and R 6  is H, methyl, or ethyl. 
     
     
       7. The nanomaterial of  claim 1 , wherein m is an integer in the range of 0 to 10. 
     
     
       8. The nanomaterial of  claim 1 , wherein the nanocrystal is a semiconductor nanocrystal. 
     
     
       9. An aqueous nanomaterial suspension comprising the nanomaterial of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous nanomaterial suspension remains stable as an aqueous suspension when stored under ambient conditions for at least 2 months.